Album Review: Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

It's been almost a decade since Franz Ferdinand announced their arrival with hit single, Take Me Out, and their self-titled debut. They emerged confident in their sound then and haven't messed with it too much since. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action sees the next small, but not disposable, step in their evolution.

Opening track, Right Action, shows from the get-go that the Franz guitars are as jangly and the rhythms as staccato and precise as ever. But don't be fooled, this isn't just a rehashing of that signature sound. Evil Eye is a jaunty, therimin-infused number that sounds like it could be used in the opening credits of a '50s sci-fi parody. Love Illumination returns to that vintage Franz Ferdinand sound, with singer Alex Kapranos philosophising about a “sweet love celebration”. It almost sounds like a self-help affirmation, but is somehow sweet and genuine. The Universe Extended delivers a late album breather that's a little more contemplative than the rest of the record, before Brief Encounters brings a laidback ska rhythm to continue the low-key wind down. Goodbye Lovers And Friends marches towards the closing moments, with Kapranos going so far as to finish the album with, “This really is the end”.

If Franz Ferdinand were attempting any neck-jarring changes in direction, they failed miserably. But if their goal was to make another record of catchy, tight-jeaned alt-rock, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action more than delivers.